Timeline of Britain

Colonization of Britain by Homo Erectus
Britain is attached to the European continent during an interglacial period of the Ice Age. Using simple wooden
spears, primitive humans hunt the mammoth and hippopotamus that are prevalent in southeast England.

70,000BC

Neanderthals settle in England
These humans live in caves and hunt wild animals for food and clothing.

Britain becomes an island
Mainland Britain is seperated from the continent of Europe, when the sea covers the land-bridge that joined them.

4,300BC-2,750BC

THE STONE AGE

2,800BC

The construction of Stonehenge in Wiltshire begins.

2,750BC-750BC

THE BRONZE AGE

2,600BC

Development of Avebury stone circle in Wiltshire.

2,000BC

The construction of Stonehenge is completed.

750BC-55BC

THE IRON AGE

750BC

New Celtic migrations into Britain
The arrival of these Germanic people coincides with the beginning of iron displacing bronze as the principal metal
used for tool and weapon making in Britain.

55BC-450AD

ROMAN BRITAIN

45AD

Most of southern England under Roman control

60AD

King Prasutagus dies
The death of the Iceni king sees Boudicca leading the Iceni and Trinovantes in a brutal revolt, slaughtering inhabitants of
Cumulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans). Boudicca’s army was devastated near Mancetter (Warwickshire) and the revolt
ended with the alleged self-poisoning of Boudicca and her daughters.

122AD

Construction of Hadrian’s wall begins

139AD

Construction of the Antonine wall begins
Though the wall is abandoned in 163 and 207.

450AD-800AD

THE CREATION OF ANLGO-SAXON ENGLAND

c.500AD

Seven major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
Succesive invasions by the Jutes (from southern Scandinavia), Saxons and Angles (from northern Germany)
begin in earnest shortly after the withdrawal of the Romans. The Heptarchy (seven kingdoms) is established over time by the settlement of the invaders, with
Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria vying for supremacy over Sussex, Kent, East Anglia and Essex.

600-800AD

Conversion of England to Christianity

c.790AD

Four major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria and East Anglia now vie for supremacy and the ruler’s title of Bretwalda
(overking).

800AD-1066AD

THE VIKING INVASIONS AND THE EXPANSION OF WESSEX

www.yorksj.ac.uk/dialect/ Scanset.htm and The Rough Guide History of England by Robin Eagles